Professor Emeritus Dr Emma Porio joins global climate experts in Mombasa, Kenya for IPCC Cities Report

Professor Emeritus, Dr Emma Porio (Sociology- RGL-SoSS) of Ateneo de Manila University is among nearly 100 scientists from over 50 countries participating in the Second Lead Author Meeting of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, currently being held in Mombasa, Kenya from 21–25 July  2025.

The meeting, taking place from 21 to 25 July, is an important step in preparing the First Order Draft (FOD) of the report, which is expected to be published in March 2027. The report will be the IPCC’s only special publication in its current assessment cycle, offering a focused look at how cities around the world are dealing with the effects of climate change and what more can be done to adapt and build resilience.

Hosted by the Kenyan State Department for Environment and Climate Change, the meeting brings together experts from the IPCC’s three Working Groups, covering the physical science of climate change, its social and economic impacts, and possible solutions. Dr Porio’s contribution is grounded in decades of work on urban poverty, resilience, and climate governance in Southeast Asian cities.

“I am very happy that I am able to assert the intersectionality of vulnerabilities and capacities among highly exposed and vulnerable peoples and communities in different climate governance settings—both in the plenary and in our chapter meetings—mainly based on my work with former Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga on cascading climate and disaster risks,” Dr Porio shared.

The drafting process began earlier this year in Osaka, Japan, and is based on a framework approved by IPCC member states in Sofia, Bulgaria. An expert review of the draft will open in October 2025.

For more information, visit the IPCC announcement.